The Drinking Mirror app, developed for the Scottish Government’s ‘Drop a Glass Size’ campaign, aims to show women what will happen to their looks if they regularly drink heavily. The app uses a picture of your face and information about your drinking habits to reveal the effects of alcohol consumption.

The free app, available for iPhone, Android, and on the web, shows users that cutting down a glass size can have a significant effect on the ageing process. The latest figures show that around 38% of women regularly exceed daily or weekly sensible drinking guidelines, by drinking more than 2-3 units a day/14 units a week. This can cause deeper wrinkles, red cheeks, and weight gain.

The campaign encourages women to make small changes, such as alternating alcohol with soft drinks or water and having two alcohol-free days a week, which could lead to big health improvements. Dr Samantha Robson, GP, comments:

Alcohol undoubtedly has an effect on our appearance in the short and long-term. As well as causing bloating and dark circles under your eyes, alcohol dries out skin and can lead to wrinkles and premature aging… Many women don’t think about the longer term effects of drinking or that on average it takes them longer than a man to recover from the damage caused by a big night.

Drinking Mirror